As a systems analyst, you must use the best application tools to analyze the pro

Question

As a systems analyst, you must use the best application tools to analyze the proposed system to be developed. Write an essay describing the advantages and disadvantages for agile, JAD, and RAD approaches to application development methods.

Your essay should contain a minimum of 300 words. Format your essay using APA style. Use your own words, and include citations and references as needed to avoid plagiarism.

Information about accessing the Blackboard Grading Rubric for this assignment is provided below.

Explanation / Answer

Agile:
Agile Methodologies are the latest in software development.

Agile methodologies propose an incremental and iterative approach to software design. Agile methodologies were born after the Waterfall model and in response to the shortcomings of the Waterfall model.

Software development companies with agile methodologies respond to this inconsistent environment in the following ways.

Pricing and Transparency

Agile contracts offer transparency. The standard Agile contract openly defines resource types, and resource dedication. For example:

Clients actively participate in requirement definition and associated costs with the development team. Everything is discussed out in the open as a united team. Times and costs associated with every software functionality are discussed openly with the development team.

Business Value Comes First

The agile process promotes and requires that functionalities with higher business value are done first.

Great Communication: Clients are required to actively participate in the project, improving communication overall between the client and the provider. Clients are aware of every detail every step of the way.

Costs: Payment is done in regular installments and based on completed and approved work. Clients see the costs associated to each functionality before it is programmed and can back out on “non essential” items to reduce overall project costs.

The Advantages

Transparency: Agile methodologies require transparency, making a project less cumbersome from a communication point of view. Agile methodologies require software development companies to explicitly communicate functionality costs and development times.

Top of Form

Bottom of Form

Collaborative Effort: Clients are obligated to actively participate in the requirements definition process, thus reducing unknowns and making the overall process more efficient. And the method requires software development companies to basically “rent out” a software team at a fixed amount until the client chooses to end the project. This pay-as-you-go system makes project finances very easy to manage from a revenue and expense point of view.

The Disadvantages

Complicated Sales Cycle: Clients like fixed amount contracts. This is true in software development as in other types of services. When bidding on a project, clients like to know “how much is this going to cost me more or less”. Selling software with Agile Methodologies makes answering this question very difficult. First of all, it can never be answered until iteration ends and frankly clients don’t like hearing this.

Training the Client: Clients do have to go through a training process to be successful in the product development. The lack of client participation and understanding will affect the software quality and therefore reflect on the software development company.

Small projects and maintenance projects are a big part of software development services, yet Agile Methodologies are not ideal for these kinds of projects. This forces software development companies to have hybrid solutions.

Common Problems: Applying Agile Methodologies has its problems just as all processes do:

Reference for more information:http://www.nearshoreamericas.com/agile-methodology-advantages-disadvantages/

JAD:

The Joint Application Development (JAD) technique is an extended, facilitated workshop. It involves collaboration between stakeholders and systems analysts to identify needs or requirements in a concentrated and focused effort.

Advantages

• This technique allows for the simultaneous gathering and consolidating of large amounts of information.
• This technique produces relatively large amounts of high-quality information in a short period of time.
• Discrepancies are resolved immediately with the aid of the facilitator.
• This technique provides a forum to explore multiple points of view regarding a topic.

Disadvantages

• Requires significant planning and scheduling effort.
• Requires significant stakeholder commitment of time and effort.
• Requires trained and experienced personnel for facilitation and recording.

JAD Process Steps

1. Define Session: Define the purpose, scope, and objectives of the JAD session, selecting the JAD team, invite and obtain commitment to attend sessions from the appropriate stakeholders, and schedule the session.
It is important to obtain management commitment to support the process and identify the appropriate stakeholders.

2. Research Product: Become more familiar with the product or service, gather preliminary information, obtaining any models.

3. Prepare: Prepare any visual aids, developing a realistic agenda, training the recorder, and preparing the meeting room.

4. Conduct Session: Follow agenda to gather and document the project needs and requirements. It is important to ensure all participants are given equal treatment during the process.

5. Draft the Documents: Prepare the formal documents. The information captured in the JAD session is further refined through analysis efforts,open questions or issues discovered through the sessions are resolved, and the final document is returned to stakeholders for review and validation.

Reference link for more analysis:http://www.directutor.com/content/joint-application-development-jad-technique

RAD:

Advantages of RAD Software Development

Disadvantages of RAD Software Development

Reference for more:http://www.my-project-management-expert.com/the-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-rad-software-development.html.

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